Seamons did a fantastic job on this one. I'm a big fan of the matrix but many times I walk away thinking I should have gone with the pure AUD or SBD, sometimes the two get in each other's way. Not the case here, the aud perfectly compliments the board, or maybe it's the other way around? I'm not familiar with the differences between Dr Bob's AUD master and the Kathy Sublette source, but I wonder if this one could be made even better?
Just a short comment on the quality of the matrix, I'm listening to this show now for the first time in years and have very little memory of the performance, I'm only a few songs in. But it's a great setlist, the first set comes out fast and rockin with the first three numbers. They were still giving first sets big closer jams, gotta love that. The second set's list became a formula of sorts for a while, 78 and 79's second sets started to get a bit formulaic, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
It took me until Scarlet to notice they have Mickey on the left and Billy on the right, but when I do notice, I can't stop noticing!

Just sit back and enjoy what I consider one of the best Dead shows. 1978 is solid and one of my favorite years since they took the perfection of 1977 and increased the tempo - and the passion here is awesome!

yep. this peggy -o takes the cake out of all the peggy-o-s. sheer bliss in garcia's solo. funny thing is my friends and i had this first set on cassettes when we were younger... so when i heard this i knew i had heard it before and finally it dawned on me that it was on the dead hour tape!
the cassidy is pretty stand up too! in fact the first 4 tunes are sharp! second set is pretty solid too! good ship of fools. donna actually sounds half decent on this recording too! thanks for not fucking this one up donna! good estimated eyes. the iko is pretty slippery too. between the quality (hunter seamons!!!), the nostalgia!, the playing, the the venue in by-god-west- virginia... this one is a winner and a diamond in the rough.

I've been listening to this one on and off for a couple weeks now. Overall, the band is "locked in" from about halfway through Jack Straw until the end. Garcia, in particular, is just killin' it all night. He bending notes everywhere and singing with passion, beauty and superior effort. There's a little something extra happening pretty much constantly by one band member or another. "X-Factor" in the extreme.
Hunter's (Jubal?) matrix is simply superb. Sonic wizardry just barely captures what is happening here in terms of sound quality. A benefit of this is that one can every note Weir is playing for a change. He had a really cool and clean sound during this era with that fancy Ibanez. It reminds me anew how exceptional his contribution is to the band. When he can be heard!
I think Donna is mostly great and I don't mean to step into controversy but she just keeps scatting endlessly during that last part of 'Scarlet'. It is really an exceptionally long time and near the end Garcia switches guitar tone and it feels like he'd be blowing up if there was a little more room (i.e., if Donna would stop scat-singing).
Fortunately she has a lesser role during the 'FOTM' and this version is spectacular barn burner. Garcia's tone, phrasing, and spirit are delightful and I'd put this 'Fire' up there with any of the greatest. Near the end, Garcia is vocally improvising and screaming out "Fire, Fire!" during the chorus. It's great stuff, man. The 'Iko' is a nice change from the expected NFA and has similar areas of exploration. This is only the sixth time played and they give it a workout. 'Peggy-O' is as wonderful as another reviewer stated. Again, the vocal effort and execution are fantastic. Thanks Mr. Seamons for another masterpiece. More people should here this one!!! Very cool and lucky find.

best Peggy-O I've ever heard